Greglw3

The game has changed but being clear that I would have rather had Brantley or Binentendi, Gallo has hit 38 HR once and over 40 HR twice. That’s Mike Schmidt, or even Hank Aaron territory for 3 years. Plus he mitigated his low batting average in 2021 with a wildly high and very significant amount of walks, 111. He’s won 2 gold gloves and 2 all star appearances. It’s a gamble but one that might pay huge dividends. Even if he does bounce back, it’s just a one year deal, like Correa’s. I’m extremely perplexed with the offseason so far but very guardedly optimistic about what they may do in trades. Aside from the one year when they went out and got Nelson Cruz, Schoop, and C.J. Cron, their offseason and judgments have fallen flatter than a pancake since. Maybe they can rally. A signing of Segura, a trade for Gleybar Torres, a trade for Pablo Lopez, a trade of Kepler and a trade of Polanco and possibly even (gasp) Arraez, yielding another outfielder and maybe a 3rd baseman that has solid MLB credentials, along with 1 of Kirilloff and Larnach could shake things up. Conforto is still available, probably until I check MLBTR today. Plus, maybe Julien or Austin Martin arrive this year. Lewis, I hope he’s back this year but my view is tempered by having been a Bulls fan when Derrick Rose tore his ACL two years in a row. He’s never been the same since.

He is available and might be helpful.

I’ve been no fan of the FO for last 2+ years so I see your point. I’m being hopeful while also quite skeptical. I’ve been watching their offseason too long and except 2019, they seem totally overmatched by almost all other MOs

That's your post after I mentioned 2 40 homer seasons and a 38 homer season? And that Gallo had 111 walks in 2021, which is an extremely rare and high number of walks for any player. You pick on the 20 consecutive steals mention (he’s fast) when he’s won 2 gold gloves and been an all star twice. You ignore all that and make a smarmy comment about his steals. Oh, yeah, he has an absolute cannon for an arm.

Gallo has had 4 good-great (3 good to very good, 1 great) seasons as defined by OPS+ 109, 118, 121, 145.

The hole in RF where the incumbent has never done any of the following, all of which Gallo has: Hit 38 Home runs Hit 40 Home Runs twice Won 2 gold gloves Named to the all-star team 2 times Stolen 20 consecutive bases, as Gallo has as of now. Had 111 walks in one season (2021). That hole.

"The only difference between Sano and Gallo is that Gallo is more expensive, and is an OF." Gallo has little to no defensive value? Gallo has won two gold gloves, Sano never won one. Sano never walked 111 times in a season as Gallo did in 2021 (Sano’s highest was 59). Gallo had a .351 OBP in 2021 and 38 HR and an .808 OPS. Sano never hit 40 HR, which Gallo has done twice. Gallo currently has a 20 consecutive steal streak going, Sano 5/8 for his career. Gallo had a 138 OPS+ for Texas in 2021 and a total of 121 OPS. Don’t know what happened to him last year but he has a track record that says maybe last year was a fluke. All that said, I was perplexed by the signing too, until I did a little more of a deep dive and found all of the above. Maybe he’ll be the next IKF? The best signing of the day was by the White Sox getting Binentendi. And he wasn’t that expensive. Why the Twins didn’t sign him I’m befuddled by. I’m still guardedly optimistic about what they’ll do in trades.

If the Twins want to win, they need to bump the payroll from last year’s 142 MM to 160 - 170MM. With Twins apparently ready to give Correa ~ 40MM in the first few years, they woud be fools if they were not prepared to get to 160-170MM and complete the rebuild. Kepler should be traded to gain 8-9MM. They need enough money for Rodon, Brantley, Haniger and Christian Vazquez. Then we will have a good offense and a bright future while still spending about 110MM less then the Dodgers and Yankees. Correa will be a wonderful player to build around. His gun arm saves tons of base hits and turns them to outs. Forgetn the SABR stats, Correa is a generational player right there with Buxton but healthier.

Your answer is correct but what this al adds up to is we don’t have any OFers remotely close to star quality. IMO< they need to sign or trade for two quality OFs such as Brantley, Binentendi, Haniger. Then the box is checked. On to catcher, backup CF, maybe DH.

The catching situation is extremely dire. Jeffers is among a big group of question marks. Polanco, Kirilloff, Larnach, Buxton, Left field and right field plus Pagan and Lopez. I think maybe Wallner is ready as was Miranda (Kepler has to be moved) but I’d prefer an established hitter to start in RF, then maybe Wallner rises to the top. Jeffers may improve or he may linger around .200 all year, which would be a killer for a big rebound season. They need to sign Contreras or Christian Vázquez or trade for a Danny Jansen. Jeffers should begin season as strictly a backup.

Mr. Joe Pohlad needs to do exactly that. For a modest 160-170 MM, he gets a team that can compete for playoff success. And the perpetually filled Target field, concessions and parking would repay him handsomely. Joe Pohlad has a major opportunity here! I don’t like opt outs but after year 4 works fairly well, although I’d be happy with after year 5 or 6. But if Correa and Boras want that, as Nick has conceived the contract, I’d be OK with it, then strike quickly for Contreras or Rodon. And I want Brantley and/or Haniger too. Shed Kepler’s salary to make room in the new era budget! Oh and David Robertson too!

Bad projection. Kepler is a player that has dragged the Twins down for 3 years now. Enough.

From Jason Merkle on SBNation, a Tigers community comes this scouting report of Wallner just before he was drafted. The field rating of 50 and the throwing arm of 65 would seem to be in direct opposition to your description of his defense as "very poor fielder". Jose Miranda struggled early too and look what happened. I would acquire a right fielder other than Kepler and let things shake out. I don’t think Kepler is worth even 1 Wallner. Kepler is a poor hitter, 3 years running, terrible last year. And as I watched Wallner play, I saw nothing to think he wasn’t at least a competent or better, potentially, right fielder.

Turns out they didn’t really sign him. Somehow somebody confused Jair Camargo with Johan Camargo and reported a non-existent deal. Quite bizarre!

I'd call it an excellent idea.

I agree Gordon is far more valuable than Kepler and still growing in an upward arc. Kepler just has to go for the team to move forward/upward.

The best thing is to trade Kepler and replace him with a solid MLB outfielder. He’s been an offensive disaster for 3 years running and owns a lifetime ~.233 BA. Classic addition by subtraction. Amed Rosario would be a good 1 for 1 trade but doubt Guards would do that. Must buttress OF with Brantley, Haniger, Nimmo, etc. Wallner may make a good replacement RF but would have a more experienced solid MLB OF as insurance.

Marshall was far, far better pitcher than Pagan, at least according to my memory. That’s probably why the cerebral Gene Mauch used him so much.

Notice I said, "some combination of the following". I didn’t mean to suggest they should make all those moves. You’re right, the payroll might be in Dodgers territory. I my rebuild of the Twins for 2023 I traded and signed free agents with Jim Pohlad giving me a $160 MM payroll. I’m at 162.5 but look what I got! I did set the trade difficulty closer to the most difficult so that Thad Levine would say, "Thinking about this deal gives me heartburn" and the other GM would say, "You’ll need to get serious to get a deal done!"

I wasn’t suggesting those 4 players for Burnes or Woodruff but merely listing 4 players they could trade as part of the offseason overhaul. Kepler first! I’d have to think about what I would trade for one of them. Maybe Urshela as part of it, even though I love him to death.

I agree, Sign Correa now and add more significant pieces. Some combination of the following: Sign Michael Brantley for LF. Sign Jose Abreu for 1B. Sign A.J. Pollock as 4th OF, possible platoon work with Matt Wallner in RF. Trade for Burnes or Woodruff from Brewers: tradeables Kepler, Mahle, Polanco, Garlick. Sign Willson Contreras as C. Sign David Robertson. Keep Gio Urshela at 3B Get a legitimate ML CF as backup for Buxton in CF. They could also fill in around the OF and DH and play CF on Buxton’s frequent rest days. Payroll minimum $160MM. It would be expected to rise from $142 MM to about $152 MM anyway so stretch a little and earn the money back in 30,000 plus crowds, increased concessions, parking, etc.

WHy not sign a career .298 hitter for LF, a potential batting title contender in Michael Brantley? Then you could have two Luis Arraez’s batting 1-2. Binentendi would be good too but Brantley would be more affordable. And outfield of Brantley, Buxton and Wallner would have strong potential. I guess Garlick could take on the tougher lefties, I would have preferred A.J. Pollock. They also need a serviceable CF backup for Buxton. Without spending too much money for that, they could look to Nick Gordon to fill that role. I’d sign Correa for SS with Swanson #1 backup. And I’d go hard for Willson Contreras. Could Robbie Ray be pried away from the Mariners? Burnes, Gallen? They’re gonna have to move their payroll up to $160MM and I firmly believe Jim Pohlad would do that. OF Brantley, Buxton, Wallner - (Garlick - Gordon) 3B Urshela SS-Correa 2B-Polanco or Julien 1B Arraez C Contreras DH Haniger? Gordon LF/CF/2B/DH

Perhaps a disqualifier! :-)

Mudville is located at the location of the Toledo MudHens stadium in the 1930s. This was at Swain field where the conditions were apparently frequently muddy thus muddying up the Hens that hung out there. Don’t hold me to that. I just came up with this yarn because I’m from Toledo and it sounds plausible. The second sentence, 1st paragraph and the last paagraph are, in fact, true. Lastly, Casey Stengel was a player-manager for the Toledo Mud Hens from 1926-1931.

I’m trading Kepler. He’s been subpar and I think Wallner is ready in a similar way to Miranda last year. Kirilloff can factor in pending performance and injuries. I’m signing Hanogar and Willson Contreras. I expect Gordon to play a lot and continue his offensive improvement. He’s good insurance as well for Polanco’s injury proneness. I still like Billy Hamilton as his inexpensive mid to long term injury replacement. I’m trading for Brady singer in his walk year. That gives six starters for depth with Varland, Simeon Woods Richardson, Josh Winder as further depth. The Twins will have to spend $160 MM to contend. Assuming a $10 MM increase from last years $142 to $152, they’ll have to stretch to get this quality team that will excite the fans and WIN (TWINS)! C: Wilsson Contreras ($23.00M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.00M) LF: Mitch Haniger ($8.1M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.70M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) 4th OF: AJ Pollock ($6.00M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($1.20M) Utility: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.00M) SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP2: Tyler Mahle ($6.00M) SP3: Brady Singer ($0.7M) SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M) SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M) RP: Kendall Graveman ($8.00M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M) RP: Trevor May ($6.00M) RP: David Robertson ($8.00M) RP: Kenta Maeda ($3.0M) Payroll is 11.89% over budget